San Miguel de Orion Boys Choir

History

San Miguel de Orion Boys Choir was formed in 2024 under the initiative of Mr. Marc Cyril Tuazon, its choir director. They assisted at Mass for the first time on December 15, 2024 — the first day of Simbang Gabi — which the choir considers its founding day. It was established exclusively for boys to encourage them to make music and sing, to show them that choral singing is also for them, and to demonstrate that they can certainly serve God through their gift of music, addressing the need for a greater presence of boys and men in the Church. Currently, the choir's membership ranges from boys in elementary school to young men studying in college.

In October 2024, with the approval of the parish priest, Fr. Abraham Pantig, and with the help of parish catechists, boys from various elementary and secondary schools underwent an audition process, and those who passed were invited to join. The goal of the audition process was for the choir to serve as a messenger through which God's invitation to serve is sent, as God invites all men to serve, but in many different ways. Through this selection process, boys who have the potential to sing and to serve God through music were encouraged to hone their abilities and to offer back to God the talents which He has given them. Those who answered the invitation to serve became the first members of the San Miguel de Orion Boys Choir. The same audition process is still conducted at least once a year.

Rehearsals and Formation

Choir rehearsals are held regularly every Saturday morning. The members are taught not just to practice music, but also to practice prayer. These prepare them for their future roles as fathers and leaders of communities by instilling in them discipline, creativity, and hard work, for one has to have these in order to create something of beauty. And by practicing prayer, the boys learn to become channels through which God's graces flow, for it is the role of men to become mediators between God and the people they lead; hence, there is an indispensable need for men to know how to pray.

Mass Schedule and Music

The choir assists every Sunday at the 4:00 PM Mass. By attending Mass, the mission of the choir to bring these boys to Jesus is fulfilled. Most of the songs the choir sings, especially the Ordinary of the Mass, were composed by the late Fr. Benildus Ma. Maramba, OSB, of the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, Manila. The monks of the abbey still sing these songs at their Simbang Gabi celebrations.

Our Patron

The choir is named after San Miguel de Orion, who is also the patron of the parish where its members serve. A distinct feature of the retablo image of San Miguel in Orion is that he is depicted as a little boy, and this is the reason the choir's membership is made up of boys. The choir serves as a reminder to the community that what defeats the enemies of God are not the strong and powerful, but those who know how to humble themselves and depend on their Father like little children.